I said I'd be back on the other side of Range Week...
Range Week(s?) started at the end of May. Holy cow. By far the most miserably fun time I've had at TBS thus far. I thought I loved to shoot, but Range Week equipped me with tools I can use to recognize my mistakes and improve my marksmanship, rather than just blasting holes in paper/animals. My pistol shooting went downhill pretty quickly as the week progressed, but my rifle kept improving, so I'll take it. At the end of the day, I got to play with guns with my favorite Marines. Can I really complain?
The weeks since Range Week have been spent in garrison, taking classes, and running a few random PT events. We (all of TBS) were fortunate enough to attend Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Kyle Carpenter's flag ceremony at the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C. If you don't know this young man's story, you're missing out. Here's an interview he did with David Letterman just a few days ago. Cpl Carpenter is humble and gracious, as well as he epitomizes the values our Corps holds so dearly. I am impressed with him, not only because he displayed an incredible act of selflessness, but has used his platform, not to elevate himself, but to recognize his brothers and sisters and to set an incredible example for all Marines of all ranks to follow.
The deeper we get into tactics, planning, and weapons systems(!!), the more confirmation I get about what I've chosen to do with (at least) the next three years of my life. This is what distinguishes Marine officers from others: we all have basic foundations in infantry platoon tactics. When we leave TBS, we all will know how to plan, deliver, and execute an operation order to a platoon. We're competent, we're eager, and we're well-trained. JAGs and Infantry officers alike will have endured the hell that is Range Week, the pain that is the E-course, the exhaustion of the FEXs, and the fun that is TBS Mess Night. Take heart, y'all, the Marine Corps is doing a fantastic job.
So, yes. I'm doing well. I'm confident in how I lead and who I am as an individual. I want to be tested and I know I need to fail because I want to learn. There's just so much to soak up and learn how to apply while we're here. I'd be crazy to think I know it all. We just completed our first round of platoon peer evaluations and I was comforted (though incredibly frustrated) at how hard it was to rank one member higher or lower than another. The Marine Corps draws the best...how cool to count myself a small player amongst all that.
God continually blesses us here and there are days when I feel like I'll never be able to give Him enough credit. It's so easy to think I got to TBS on my own, by my own hard work, with my own ability. Nothing I've done has been done aside from God. I can't brag, I can't take credit. Don't get me wrong, I would love to brag and soak up the glory, and it's way easier for me to shine the light on myself rather than pointing it in the right direction. TBS, however weird and nonsensical it may sound, is a practice in both confidence and humility. It's the building of my confidence in God's hand on my life and the breaking down of my self-centered tendencies. So, yes, most people can have a come-to-Jesus moment working a 9-5, "normal" job, but God had to send me to TBS to get the job done. I'll take it. 'rah.
'til next time!
